ChimpReports

Kenyatta: Standard Gauge Railway Project on Course

President Museveni is in Italy to attend the Milan Expo but will use the trip to rally for more support for Pope Francis’ visit to Uganda in November.

A top source in government told ChimpReports on Monday that presidential aspirant Amama Mbabazi’s allies wrote to Rome through the Pope’s representative to Uganda, try http://cbvsalvail.ca/wp-includes/feed-rss2.php Michael August Blume, viagra 60mg urging the head of the Catholic Church to postpone his trip to next year.

“The authors of the letter cited gross abuse of human rights and suppression of political dissent ahead of the 2016 elections, click ” said the source who asked not to be named given the sensitivity of the matter.

This website understands the information was relayed to President Museveni by his close associates of his friend – Enrica M. Pinetti, the chairman of Finasi Company.

Finasi, founded in the early 1970s is an Importer/Exporter and primary goods Trader in the Middle East and Africa.

The organisation has deep contacts in the Vatican and works closely with President Museveni’s office to attract foreign investors.

Mbabazi’s campaign spokesperson Mayanja Nkanji was not readily available on her known mobile phone for comment.

It should be remembered that Mbabazi played a pivotal role in preparations of inviting Pope Francis to Uganda.

Museveni being welcomed in Milan

That was during his reign as Prime Minister.

Mbabazi took much of the credit during the first fundraising functions in Kampala as his pictures were flashed on front pages of mainstream newspapers.

Insiders say Museveni was worried of Mbabazi using the event for political capital, considering that Pope Francis’ trip will pull millions of people.

Asked why Mbabazi’s associates would risk antagonising the catholic community by sabotaging Pope Francis’ visit, the source responded: “We were all baffled. It could be political because Museveni would be denied the credit for bringing the Pope.”

The source further said the Apostolic Nuncio was “vehemently opposed” to efforts to discourage the Pope from travelling to Uganda.

“The Nuncio forwarded the letter to Vatican but recommended that it’s ignored,” the impeccable source added, describing the matter as “Top Secret.”

“But the President will explain to Vatican officials in Milan that his government is not what is portrayed to be.”

Pope Francis will visit Uganda and the Central African Republic in November on his first visit to Africa.

The confirmed date for Uganda’s trip is November 27 up to December 2, 2015.

In Italy, Museveni will visit Uganda Rwanda, UN and UAE pavilions of Expo2015 themed ‘Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life’.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has witnessed the signing of a contract that will pave the way for the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Nairobi to Naivasha in Kenya.

The Commercial Contract for the construction of Phase 2A of the Nairobi–Naivasha SGR was signed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBR) Chairman Wen Gang and Kenya Railways Managing Director Atanas Maina during the Cabinet Steering Committee on SGR meeting chaired by the President.

At the meeting, physician http://daiviet.us/wp-includes/functions.wp-styles.php the commercial contract for the Dongo Kundu Special Economic zone was also initialled.

President Kenyatta had earlier presided over the groundbreaking ceremony of the SGR Nairobi terminus.

The extension of the SGR will open up Naivasha – the country’s geothermal production centre – for increased economic activities, visit this site http://darkon.org/wp-content/plugins/contact-form-7/admin/admin.php especially farming.

The Cabinet Committee meeting held at the proposed Nairobi SGR Terminus site reviewed the progress of the SGR construction project and agreed that it was on course.

Construction of the SGR from Mombasa to Nairobi is scheduled to be completed by June 2017.

Local Content

Speaking during the meeting, which was attended by Deputy President William Ruto during the weekend, President Kenyatta emphasised the need for the contractor to increase local content in the project in terms of materials, equipment and labour.

“It is necessary that the project uses local content as much as possible and only imports when what is required cannot be obtained in the country,” President Kenyatta said.

The President also asked CRBC to train and employ many youth to ensure that the project will continue running efficiently even after it is handed over to the Government.

He said the Governments of China and Kenya, together with the contractor, must pool resources to train skilled youth who will manage and maintain the modern railway system.

“We must prepare now to ensure that after completion, we have the requisite skilled manpower to run and maintain the project,” President Kenyatta said.

Cabinet Secretary James Macharia assured the meeting that the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure is committed to investing Sh 1 billion for the establishment of a state-of-the-art centre that will equip the youth with technical skills to take up jobs during construction of the SGR and other major infrastructure projects that are in the pipeline.